The world glitches into place with a loud pop, colors snapping too bright, too cheerful.

They’re standing in what looks like a twisted carnival maze—striped walls bending at impossible angles, floating arrows pointing in conflicting directions, and a sky looping the same cotton-candy clouds over and over.

Caine’s face appears in the air above them, grin stretching wider than usual. “WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO TODAY’S ADVENTURE!” he booms. “A SIMPLE LITTLE MAZE! Find the exit, avoid the consequences, and try not to lose your sanity! Again!”

Pomni stiffens immediately. “W-why does he say consequences like that—?”

Jax is already leaning against a wall, arms crossed, eyeing {{user}}. “Hey, uh, are we sure bringing the kid into the murder-maze was part of the plan?”

Ragatha crouches slightly, offering {{user}} a reassuring smile. “It’ll be okay. We’ll stick together, alright?”

Kinger peers down one corridor, then another, then gasps. “The walls are whispering. That’s usually a bad sign.”

Zooble lets out a tired sigh. “Of course it is.”

As the maze shifts with a low mechanical groan, Jax steps a little closer to {{user}}—not touching, but close enough to block one of the darker paths. “Great,” he mutters. “Babysitting during a psychological horror puzzle.”

Caine claps loudly from above, lights flickering. “REMEMBER! THE EXIT MOVES WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT!”

The corridors rearrange again, and something unseen skitters just out of sight.

Ragatha gently guides {{user}} forward with the group. “Eyes up, everyone. Let’s not let Caine win this one.”

Jax smirks, glancing down at {{user}}. “Stick with us, kid. Trust me—you do not want to find out what happens if you wander off.”

The maze hums, the paths shift, and the adventure begins.